Exploring Scripture Through Abstract Art and Music

Joshua and Kaitlyn Rose Leventhal began developing Tapiseri as friends who connected through social media and shared a common interest in faith and art. Joshua, a musician and worship leader, imagined creating an album that would bring together stories, scenes and themes from Scripture. Kaitlyn, a visual artist, envisioned a collection of abstract paintings that could stand individually while also forming part of a larger work. Years later, the two are married, living in Vancouver and preparing to welcome their first child. What began as an early creative conversation has developed over the past three years into an ambitious multimedia project combining music, visual art and a book. Tapiseri, Volume I is scheduled for release on September 4. The title comes from a transliteration of the Greek word for “tapestry,” reflecting the project's central idea of individual pieces coming together to form a larger story. The complete project will feature 25 songs spread across three albums. The accompanying artwork consists of a series of abstract paintings that can be viewed individually or combined to reveal a larger visual composition. Scripture Through Music and Art The music of Volume I moves between minimal arrangements and expansive, symphonic sounds. One of the songs, “Blessed,” reflects on creation, moving from an intimate musical setting toward a more cinematic sound. The song considers both the detail of creation and its vastness. Another track, “Cursed,” draws from the account of Genesis 3. The song explores the consequences of humanity's fall while also pointing toward hope and redemption. Its movement from darkness toward hope reflects the Leventhals' broader desire to explore the full range of the biblical story. For Joshua, the project is intended to be more than an artistic exercise. While the work is meant to stand on its own as music and visual art, he also hopes it can help people engage with Scripture in a deeper and more participatory way. The couple describes the project as an opportunity for people to encounter biblical stories through multiple forms of artistic expression rather than simply receiving information about Scripture. Building a Connected Visual Story The idea for the visual component developed gradually. Kaitlyn initially imagined a collection of works united by a common color palette. Later, she began thinking about individual tiles that could eventually come together to form one larger image. Each song in the project has its own visual tile. When individual songs are released, their corresponding artwork can be viewed separately. As more pieces are brought together, connections between the different works become increasingly visible. Joshua also incorporated recurring keywords into the lyrics. These words function as connections between different parts of the project, appearing in songs throughout the three-volume work. Similar connections appear in Kaitlyn's artwork. Lines, fragments and abstract forms may not immediately communicate a recognizable image when viewed separately. However, when the pieces are assembled, their relationships and meaning become clearer. Rethinking Christian Art Kaitlyn's approach to religious art was shaped partly by her experiences growing up and studying fine arts. She attended a nondenominational church in Michigan that maintained a gallery space and regularly displayed the work of photographers and painters. Her experience in college was different. As a fine arts student, she was discouraged from creating explicitly religious artwork and was told that doing so could affect how seriously she was regarded as an artist. Over time, however, Kaitlyn began allowing her Christian faith to become more visible in her work. After college, she increasingly embraced the connection between her faith and creativity, eventually developing an abstract artistic style. She does not see Christian art as something that must always communicate an obvious religious image or message. Instead, she wants her work to explore the depth and complexity of human experience. For Kaitlyn, abstraction provides room for questions, uncertainty and different perspectives. She sees this openness as relevant to Christian faith because people do not have God's complete perspective. Her paintings use movement, color, darkness and light to explore ideas that may not have a single immediate interpretation. Creativity, Faith and Freedom Joshua approaches ambiguity in music in a similar way. As someone with experience leading worship, he recognizes that Christian music is often evaluated according to whether its lyrics communicate clear theological statements. However, he believes Christian artists can also explore difficult emotions, uncertainty and experiences that are not always positive or straightforward. For him, Scripture provides room for creativity rather than simply a list of boundaries. Christian artists, he argues, can create from the freedom they have in Christ and can explore beauty even in difficult or uncomfortable subjects. The songs in Tapiseri are therefore not designed primarily as congregational worship songs. Instead, they are intended to encourage listeners to sit with biblical stories and themes and consider them from different perspectives. Finding Inspiration Beyond Social Media The Leventhals also emphasize the importance of developing creativity through everyday experiences rather than constantly looking online for artistic inspiration. Kaitlyn says that artists can benefit from experiencing the world through senses other than sight. As a visual artist, she sometimes takes walks and deliberately focuses on sounds, physical sensations and the environment around her. She believes creativity grows when people develop a deeper understanding of who they are, how they experience the world and how they relate to God. Joshua similarly describes creativity as an ongoing way of paying attention. Reflecting on a comment by singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash, he emphasizes the distinction between simply producing something every day and maintaining the mindset of a songwriter every day. For him, creativity involves listening carefully and recognizing that ordinary experiences can become material for artistic expression. Creating in Community The couple also sees meaningful conversations and relationships as an important part of creative and spiritual growth. Joshua says that spending time with people who are asking similar questions and pursuing similar hopes has helped shape his own thinking. Rather than focusing exclusively on large Christian conferences and stadium events, he believes there is also significant value in smaller gatherings where people can discuss ideas, explore their imaginations and encourage one another in faith. For the Leventhals, Tapiseri represents the result of that kind of creative collaboration. What began with two friends discussing faith and art has developed into a long-term project that brings together Scripture, music, abstract painting and storytelling. Through its multiple albums and interconnected artwork, the project seeks to give audiences a different way to engage with biblical themes while demonstrating how faith and artistic creativity can exist together.